Which is considered the biggest complication from a liver biopsy?

The biggest complication from a liver biopsy is intraperitoneal hemorrhage. This is primarily because the liver is highly vascular, and its biopsy involves the risk of damaging blood vessels. When a needle is inserted to obtain a tissue sample, there is potential for significant bleeding within the peritoneal cavity, which can lead to hemodynamic instability and may require surgical intervention or transfusion if the bleeding is substantial.

While infection, pneumothorax, and intestinal perforation are potential complications associated with various types of biopsies, they do not pose the same level of risk in the context of a liver biopsy specifically. Infection, though a concern with any invasive procedure, is generally less common. Pneumothorax is primarily a risk associated with lung biopsies. Intestinal perforation is more relevant to procedures involving the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, intraperitoneal hemorrhage stands out as the most serious and frequent complication directly linked to liver biopsies.